Annual Columbus Day Parade marches down State Street
CHICAGO (WLS) -- The annual Columbus Day Parade kicked off Monday afternoon on State Street in downtown Chicago.
The parade got underway at 1 p.m. and traveled down State Street from Wacker Drive to Van Buren Street.
The theme of this year's parade is "Hello Italy" and the Grand Marshal is DuPage County Board Member Peter DiCianni.
The Great Lakes Navy Band led the parade followed by marchers, bands, drum and bugle corps and floats.
More than 150 units participated this year, including bands, floats, fancy Italian sports cars, and of course, dignitaries and politicians.
"Today we celebrate the wonderful achievements and contributions of the wonderful Italian-Americans here in Illinois and across America," Gov. Bruce Rauner said.
And what's a Columbus Day parade without the Knights of Columbus? The organization was part of the original lobbying effort to get Congress and President Roosevelt to proclaimed Columbus Day a federal holiday in 1937.
The Columbus Day Parade is produced by ABC 7 Chicago. The parade was broadcast live on ABC7 and ABC7Chicago.com.
WATCH ON DEMAND: 2016 Columbus Day Parade
